Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

There was a teenager who lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway.

After a fruitless search, he told his mother the lens was nowhere to be found.

Undaunted, she went outside and in a few minutes returned with the lens in her hand.

"I really looked hard for that, Mom," said the youth.

"How'd you manage to find it?"

"We weren't looking for the same thing," she replied.

"You were looking for a small piece of plastic.

I was looking for $150."

Why you do something matters.

Motivation often determines the diligence, effort, and intensity we put into a specific task.This reality becomes important as we consider the question that is our title today.

Why do we preach?This is a question of purpose.

It is also, I think, a very important question.Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the core fundamental aspects of the Christian faith.

But on a personal level, why do we do it?

What motivates us to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ?Here in we get a glimpse of what motivates the apostle Paul in his proclamation of the Gospel.They’ve been preaching the gospel in the region or county of Macedonia.

Now they have moved into Achaia (S).

This brings us to a new section of our outline for the book of Acts.Preaching The Gospel In Achaia 17:16-18:22Presented in this passage are three reasons we preach the gospel.Understanding these reasons will provide motivation for gospel proclamation.When properly motivated, we preach Christ and He transforms lives.Reason #1…

1.

We Preach Because There Is A Need vv.

16-21

There is an unfortunate trend today that often robs Christians and churches of gospel urgency.That trend is the idea that since God is so loving, everyone will get to heaven eventually.

“Everyone is on their own path to heaven” we are told.

Yet, nothing could be further from the truth.

There is a narrow way that leads to life, but a broad way that leads to destruction.*snap*

across our world, 2 people just died.

105 died in the last minute.

By the time we leave here this morning almost 10,000 people will have been ushered into eternity (ecology.com/birth-death-rates/).

Statistically speaking, over 8,000 of them were not believers.There is an urgent need for the gospel message to be proclaimed.Knowing there is a need does us no good.

We must see the need and act to meet it.That’s what we see Paul doing here.

He teaches us two vital principles in regards to need.

Principle #1…

a. Needs must be observed vv.

16-17

READ v. 16Paul is waiting for Silas and Timothy who he has called to come meet him in Athens.

While there, Paul’s is provoked by the idolatry around him.This is a very strong word.

Paul is stirred up by what he sees.

In the deepest part of his being, turmoil is born.

This is probably one of the best descriptions of the nature and character of the Apostle Paul.

He cannot abide the city being consumed with idols.He has to do something about it.

So he starts smashing idols right?

He brings them into the town square and has an idol burning party.

Right?

No.READ v. 17Look at this.

The city is overcome by idolatry.

Therefore, Paul cannot be silent!Paul’s heart for the lost compels him to speak.He speaks in two places to three groups of people.

Two places, three groups.Let’s talk about what he does, then we will look at where he is doing it.He reasoned with them on a daily basis.

Reasoned – διαλέγομαι (dialegomai) converse; discuss; argue.

To discourse.

To consider or examine a topic in speech with others.

Reasoned – διαλέγομαι (dialegomai)This is a discourse.

Paul converses and discusses with these idolatrous people.This is apologetics.I would submit to you that this is the kind of behavior we need to be engaged in for our culture today.A lost world does not need our condemnation.

They need our Jesus.Paul reasons with these lost people.

He answers their questions.As was his practice, Paul first reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue.

This is the first place and first group.

The second group is the Gentile worshipers.

These are Gentiles that have converted to Judaism.

The second place and third group is the marketplace and anyone who was there.I love this.

Paul is so burdened for these lost souls that he goes into the marketplace to reason with anyone and everyone who will listen.

And he does this every single day.Paul doesn’t see them as disgusting idol worshipers.

He sees them as lost souls in need of a Savior.

Paul’s behavior leads me to ask three questions of us.Do we have a heart for the lost?This is what a heart for the lost looks like.

When confronted with unbelief, a heart for the lost cannot be silent.

​Preaching the Word: Acts—The Church Afire The Prelude of the Athenian Address (Vv.

16–24)As believers, our hearts should ache and our eyes blur at what we see around us—ignorant souls denying the one God and giving allegiance to false deities.

If we experience no inner paroxysms, we either have not truly been redeemed by Jesus Christ or we have become apathetic to the things of God.

Are we ever compelled to speak?When we look at our world and see it darkened by sin, our reaction should not be one of condemnation.

Sinners sin.

That's why we call them sinners.

Our response to a sin darkened world must be to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ!Are we equipped to proclaim Jesus Christ?If you are unsure of your ability to tell others about Jesus.

Please come to Sunday school.

Go on the website and listen to the past lessons.

That’s what we have been learning.Paul looks at the lost and he sees their need.

If we are going to reach lost souls with the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must learn to see their need.Once we have seen their need, we must take the opportunity to share the gospel.To see needs, engage with lost souls.You cannot reach the lost with the gospel if you are never around lost people.That brings us to principle #2.

Principle #1 needs must be observed.

Principle #2…

b.

Needs will provide opportunity vv.

18-21

READ v. 18This word “encountered” is more than just bumping into Paul.Encountered – συμβάλλω (symballō) converse; confer.

To discuss, to speak with others about (something) in detail; have a discussion.Encountered – συμβάλλω (symballō)The indication is that these philosophers were a part of one of these groups where Paul had his conversations.

Epicureans—a well-known school of atheistic materialists, who taught that pleasure was the chief end of human existence.Stoics—a celebrated school of severe and lofty pantheists who believed that god is in everything.

They prized logic above everything else.Some of them put Paul down.

They call him a “babbler.”Babbler

– σπερμολόγος (spermologos) scavenger; babbler.

Word scavenger.

A parasitic person who accumulates teachings and sayings of others; especially those who would later use the sayings for their own profit.

Babbler – σπερμολόγος (spermologos)This is an accusation.

They are calling him a word scavenger.

An ignorant showoff who steals the ideas of others.Some of the other philosophers describe Paul as a proclaimer of foreign gods.

This is the idea of being a herald.

Paul is a herald of foreign gods.

They say this because he is evangelizing them.

He is proclaiming the gospel message.

That’s what is being described with the words “preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.”This

lets us know the content of the conversations Paul has been having.

He has been proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection!This is what those unfamiliar with our God need to hear!

They need to hear about Jesus and the resurrection.

This must be the focus and end game of all apologetics.

We are seeking a platform from which to proclaim Christ!To those who are unfamiliar with the name of Jesus we are either seen as ignorant showoffs or as proclaimers of foreign gods.Yet proclaiming the gospel to these types of people can provide more opportunities.

That’s what happens here.READ v. 19They take Paul to their place of worship.

Once there they give him a golden opportunity.

Paul has been proclaiming the gospel for days and now he is basically asked to preach in a heathen place of worship.What an opportunity!

Doctrine means teaching.

They want to know what Paul has been teaching.